Power stations
I can describe how burning fuels can be used to generate electricity.
Power stations
I can describe how burning fuels can be used to generate electricity.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Non-renewable energy resources cannot be replaced in our lifetime once they are used up.
- A fuel can be burned to change water to steam.
- Steam generated in power stations is at a high pressure and turns massive turbines at high speed.
- Spinning turbines in power stations turns electrical generators that generate electricity.
- Burning coal, oil or gas in power stations makes carbon dioxide gas and other pollutants.
Keywords
Turbine - In a power station is a series of angled blades that turn electrical generators that produce electricity.
Pollutants - Substances that harm living organisms when released into the environment.
Non-renewable energy resource - Cannot be replaced in our lifetime once they are used up.
Greenhouse gas - A gas that helps to trap 'heat' in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour are greenhouse gases.
Fuel - A substance that releases energy when burned.
Common misconception
Students may not recognise that non-renewable fossil fuels have advantages. These advantages include being able to release a lot of energy when burned and that they are also relatively easy to source.
Explain that electricity demands are increasing and so it is important that power stations are able to generate electricity when needed or power cuts will happen. Until viable alternatives are readily available, fossil fuels will still be used.
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Power stations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Power stations, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Fuels and energetics unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
None required.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
A substance is burned and reacts with oxygen to release energy.
Any type of reaction that transfers energy to the surrounding.
A substance that releases its stored energy during combustion.
A type of reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen.
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Series of angled blades that turns a generator in a power station.
Generates electricity when turned.
Substance that harms living organisms if released into the environment
A gas that traps 'heat' in the atmosphere.